Afghan security situation remains difficult: White House

WASHINGTON (Pajhwok): Afghan forces are showing great determination and resilience even as the security situation in the country remains quite difficult, the White House said on Thursday.

“I think (latest terrorist attack) is an indication of something that we have long acknowledged -- the security situation in Afghanistan is quite difficult, particularly in the fighting season,” the White House press secretary said.

However, Josh Earnest hastened to explain that the Afghan forces were showing great determination and resilience even in the face of some setbacks like Thursday’s deadly attack in Kabul.

At his daily news conference, the White House spokesman said the continued commitment of the US, NATO and other international contributors to the Afghan government and security forces was important.

Earnest said the US and coalition partners had good partners in the Afghan government. “It's important that we continue to support them both militarily and economically as they seem to both rebuild the institutions of that country, but also strengthen the security forces in that country.”

Meanwhile, State Department Spokesman John Kirby condemned as “horrific”the attack on the police cadets and civilians in Paghman. The first attack targeted new police cadets and the second the people who rushed to help the victims, he said.

“This incident during the holy month of Ramadan underscored the extremists’ complete disregard for human life and the harm that they continue to inflict on the Afghan people,” Kirby remarked.

Such attacks were going to only deepen America’s support for the people and government of Afghanistan and their efforts to bring security and stability to the country, the spokesman concluded.